And the son of an Israelite woman went out, etc. The text does not specify the name of either of them to indicate that both were flawed, because anyone who hastily initiates a quarrel is certainly flawed and not among the men known by their names for glory and praise, but rather among the basest, worthless men, also sons without a name. They had nothing but the family lineage of their ancestors, as one was the son of an Israelite woman and the other an Israelite man. Therefore it says and they fought in the camp, because both were contentious and quarrelsome, and guilt was brought about through the guilty party. Because the Israelite entered into a quarrel with him, he caused him to blaspheme the honored Name. Some evidence for this is from what was said: And you shall speak to the children of Israel, saying: Anyone who curses his God, etc. And how did this statement introduce the utterance, And if a man strikes down any human being? And similarly the verse And if a man causes a blemish in his fellow, etc. Furthermore, this entire verse seems superfluous, since it is stated explicitly afterward fracture for fracture, etc.

Rather, all of this speaks to the disgrace of quarreling and disputes, since peace does not emerge from conflict, and through dispute one may come to strike a person or animal, causing harm either to his body or property. And since our Sages of blessed memory said (Kiddushin 70) that “whoever disqualifies others does so with his own defect,” therefore it says and if a man causes a blemish in his fellow. To cast a blemish upon the holy ones, as he did with the bending of his lips [when he cursed], which is considered an action — so shall be done to him, for people will say that he disqualifies others with his own defect. And below it speaks of an actual physical blemish, therefore it says so shall it be inflicted upon him. Similarly, this son of an Israelite woman and this Israelite man — for each one disqualified the other with a blemish, since neither of them were men of reputation and were known only by reference to their ancestors.

And what is written: “The son of an Israelite woman went out, and he was the son of an Egyptian man.” This is the Egyptian whom Moses killed using the Explicit Name [of God], and because of this, all his days he [the son] was blaspheming in his heart, but the matter was not known publicly. And whoever desecrates the Name of Heaven in secret will be punished openly (Avot 4:5). Therefore, God arranged that he would go out from his tent among the children of Israel so that his wickedness would be revealed in the assembly, for this is the measure [of justice] in cases of desecration of the Name. And it may be that this is why it says he went out, because regarding Moses it says Moses went out to his brethren (Exodus 2:11) — [so he thought] “I too will go out to blaspheme.” Regarding Moses it says He looked this way and that way, and saw that there was no man (Exodus 2:12) and he acted in private. [But the blasphemer said,] “I will go out among the children of Israel to act publicly.”